Domitien, Elisabeth (1926–)

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Domitien, Elisabeth (1926–)

Central African Republic politician. Name variations: Elizabeth Domitien. Born in Central African Republic in 1926.

Africa's 1st female prime minister and the 1st black woman ruler of an independent state, joined the independence movement at 20 and became leader of women's organization for independence; became vice-president of the only legal party, Mouvement d'Evolution Sociale de l'Afrique Noire (Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa or MESAN, 1972); was vice-president of the Republic (1975); served as prime minister under Jean-Bédel Bokassa (1974–76) but was placed under house arrest when Bokassa declared himself emperor Bokassa I (1976); arrested after the coup that overthrew the brutal regime of Bokassa (1979), was briefly imprisoned and tried (1980); though not allowed to remain in politics, retained a high profile at home and abroad.

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